Associate Director, Stewardship

Associate Director, Stewardship

Department: Donor Engagement

Reports to: Director, Donor Engagement

FLSA Status: Exempt

The anticipated salary for this position starts at $76,900+. The final pay will be determined based on several factors, including qualifications, experience, education, and years within the job or industry, with a strong emphasis on maintaining internal equity. 

Who we are and what we’re about:

KU Endowment is an independent, nonprofit organization and the official fundraising foundation for the University of Kansas. We partner with donors in providing philanthropic support to build a greater KU.

As an employee of KU Endowment, you’ll witness firsthand the power of our donors’ generosity. You will join a talented and fun group of people who are inspired to help KU through the support of loyal alumni and friends. This support fuels excellence, enabling students and faculty to develop innovative programs and research that distinguish the university. We connect the philanthropic passions of donors with the needs of students, faculty and programs – and everyone benefits.

People are engaged. Purpose is ignited. Lives are changed.

What we are looking for:

The Associate Director of Stewardship is responsible for the direction, organization, and implementation of a comprehensive donor stewardship program at KU Endowment, supporting both broad-based and individualized engagement strategies. This role leads the development and execution of donor-centered stewardship efforts designed to strengthen long-term relationships, enhance donor satisfaction, and support retention across the full donor lifecycle.

This position works in close partnership with Donor Engagement Audience Directors, frontline development staff, Accounting, Brand Communications, and campus stakeholders to ensure a coordinated and cohesive approach to donor engagement. The Associate Director serves as a highly collaborative leader and central connector across teams, aligning stewardship strategies with donor intent, institutional priorities, and best practices to deliver meaningful and personalized donor experiences.

The Associate Director supervises and mentors Donor Engagement Coordinators, providing guidance, oversight, and support to ensure the effective execution of stewardship initiatives. This role is expected to foster a collaborative, team-oriented environment and contribute to a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

The individual in this position is expected to embrace KU Endowment’s stated core values – collaboration, curiosity, empowerment, and excellence – and demonstrate support for them through professional interactions and activities.

Hybrid Work Environment:

Following the initial training period, this position offers a hybrid work schedule, with the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week. However, the role requires multiple days per week on-site at our Lawrence, KS office to ensure effective collaboration, team engagement, and alignment with organizational goals. 

What’s a typical day look like?

• Develop and implement a comprehensive donor stewardship strategy that supports institutional fundraising priorities and enhances long-term donor engagement.
• Lead the design and execution of enterprise-level and customized stewardship plans for major and principal gift donors.
• Proactively partner with frontline development staff to co-create tailored stewardship strategies that reflect donor intent, impact, and relationship goals.
• Oversee donor lifecycle management efforts, ensuring consistent, meaningful engagement from acknowledgment through long-term stewardship.
• Utilize data analysis, segmentation, and reporting to inform strategy, measure effectiveness, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Evaluate and optimize stewardship portfolios to enhance donor satisfaction, retention, and overall engagement outcomes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including communications, events, and analytics, to align messaging, programming, and donor experiences.
• Serve as a strategic partner to major gift teams and campus stakeholders to ensure a cohesive, donor-centered approach.
• Identify and implement innovative stewardship strategies, tools, and technologies to modernize engagement and improve efficiency.
• Continuously assess workflows, processes, and programs to drive operational excellence and scalability.
• Supervise and mentor stewardship staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment.
• Provide strategic recommendations to leadership on stewardship opportunities, risks, and emerging trends.
• Regular and reliable attendance is essential for this position.
• Performs other duties as may be assigned.

What’s required to be considered:

• Bachelor’s degree required. 
• Strong strategic thinking and leadership skills, with the ability to develop and execute long-term stewardship plans.
• Data-informed approach to decision-making, with experience in segmentation, analysis, and performance measurement.
• Excellent collaboration and partnership skills, with the ability to work effectively across teams and stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects and balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Innovative mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and modern engagement strategies.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify challenges and implement effective solutions.
• High level of adaptability and resilience in a dynamic fundraising environment.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to a donor-centered approach and delivering high-quality engagement experiences.

What separates the best from the rest?

• Five to seven years of progressive experience in donor relations, stewardship, fundraising, or a related field, preferably within higher education or a nonprofit environment.
• Experience supervising or mentoring staff, with a commitment to fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Word and Excel; 
• Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), marketing or engagement platforms (e.g., Salesforce Marketing Cloud), and project management tools (e.g., Salesforce), preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• A valid driver’s license. 
• Must have access to reliable transportation to travel between multiple locations for training, donor meetings, networking, events and/or work-related activities.
• Must be able to respond quickly and effectively to directions and safety hazards.
• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office productivity machinery such as computers, keyboards and a mouse, laptops, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. 
• This is largely a sedentary role; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to move files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary.
• The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• The person in this position frequently communicates with donors, colleagues, students, and general public. Must be able to communicate with others effectively.
• Physical effort/lifting, such as medium - up to 50 pounds.
• Often travel requirements can include the following, evenings, weekends, and-out of-town overnights as a regular part of the job. 

KU Endowment is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job as regulated by ADA. If you require accommodation for any part of the application process or during employment, please contact [email protected] to discuss your needs.

We’ve got you covered:

KU Endowment offers a competitive salary with an excellent benefit package including: 

• 100% employer-paid pension plan
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) and Roth 401(k) matching program
• Section 125 flexible benefits 
• Generous paid leave including holidays, personal and sick leave
• Volunteer and community engagement opportunities
• Paid Parental Leave
• Life, AD&D, short- and long-term disability insurance
• Legal & ID Theft protection
• Critical Illness
• Accident and Hospital Indemnity insurance 
• KU education assistance 
• Free parking

Sounds good, right? What’s next?

Please include your resume and cover letter when applying for this position on our website at https://www.kuendowment.org/careers.

Questions regarding this vacancy may be addressed to:

Human Resources

KU Endowment

PO Box 928

Lawrence, KS 66044-0928

Email: [email protected]

Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Because of the sensitive nature of KU Endowment business and the importance of our reputation with donors, KU Endowment conducts a comprehensive review of applicants. By submitting your application, you authorize us to conduct reference checks and a review of available public information. Employment is contingent upon background and reference checks that KU Endowment finds acceptable.